TimC

The Ergon, Arc of Infinity.

I'm not proud that I know that.

John Smith?

Black kilts with pink skulls on them and sporrans from Alchemy Metalwear?

You have been!

Admittedly I've not been back up for a few years, but when I lived in Embra in the 90s, it seemed pretty much to be the Goth capital of the world – but largely incomers rather than natives. I blame all the pointy architecture and lack of sunlight.

They all read Sandman, of course.

I didn't even know they had goths in Scotland.

Have you never been to Edinburgh?

It's a very trad Bond in many ways – there are some fantastic action setpieces (especially the Mexican opener), but don't think too much about the bits in between. More 'The World is Not Enough' than 'Casino Royale', say. Though in many ways, it's most reminiscent of 'Quantum of Solace', if QoS had been competently directed and edited and actually had a final act.

Monica Bellucci is sadly underused, but has a fab corset (according to the wife).

If Blofeld is Bond's long-lost brother, I might start throwing things.

 

I hope not or its the poison knife-shoe for Purvis, Wade & John Logan

So, yeah. Can we talk about it yet?

So it appears we have the Austin Powers generation of John Constantine. If you will, the Jon Pertwee to Delano's Tom Baker and Carey's Peter Capaldi. (And yes, you pesky kids, Milligan's [ Spoiler : Sylveste McCoy ].)

The beauty of this analogy is that Rankin has to be McGann.

If Blofeld is Bond's long-lost brother, I might start throwing things.

For those who like his writing, Carey is doing a thing at the University of Huddersfield this evening –

http://litfest.org.uk/?q=diary#Festival%20launch

Apologies for the short notice – I'd probably have spotted it sooner if he'd been billed as Mike rather than MR.

A stretch of six very very good episodes in a row, I'm not sure any of the other seasons have that.

Probably my favourite season, even with the dodgy Dalek story. 'Blink' was the weak point of that second-half run for me, though I realise I'm in a minority there – how did you feel it held up, given that so many of its narrative tricks have been, let's say, revisited more than once by Moffat?

Michelle Gomez is splendid as <exactly who everyone thought she was> - if I recall correctly both TimC and myself argued in favour of her as a potential Doctor in this very thread a few years ago, and this is probably the next best thing.

I'm happy, obv.

For historical curiosity value, here's the 2006 interview which mentioned Gomez's ambition to "in the longer term, be the first female Doctor Who" – http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/27/broadcasting.arts

Clara's family play a significant role in 'Time of the Doctor'...despite never having been so much as mentioned before or since.

You're possibly forgetting the business with her parents in 'The Rings of Akhaten', which is understandable. It didn't help that it was an entirely different dad.

But yes, it's certainly shaping up to be Moffat's best season, full of pretty solid episodes that try to do something different and (mostly) succeed on their own terms. Let's see if he can pull off a decent finale for a change...

I recall that Moffat said he commissioned 'Journey to the Centre of the Tardis' because he remembered being disappointed by the chase through the Tardis's interior in 'The Invasion of Time'. I suspect that he also decided that what that story was really missing was an extra six episodes of Leela and Andred flirting.

(I suppose the garden could be a cloister room: they're spending a bit more on sets than they were during the '80s...)

It could be significant that Missy's garden and tearoom are both at Dyffryn, the same location as River's virtual afterlife. But it's probably not – it was also in 'The Girl in the Fireplace', 'The Girl Who Waited', a Torchwood or two, and at least one Sarah Jane Adventure.

Top to bottom –

Jamie Delano

Garth Ennis

Denise Mina

Peter Milligan

Warren Ellis

Paul Jenkins

Brian Azzarello

Andy Diggle

Mike Carey

Although pretty much everyone between the first and last couple could move around depending on which specific stories I can remember. If they were ranked on best stories, Azzarello would probably rank higher. If ranked on worst stories, Ennis and Mina would be a lot further down.

Sorry to say that the finale to The Wake makes me think less of the pretty decent first half. The second half was a bit of a mess, but the big reveal at the end is both barely coherent and horribly mawkish – if not actively offensive.

imagine someone, who knows nothing about hellblazer, come to this forum because of the series and read this comment. he has to think we are dumbasses.

That's commendably self-aware of you, sonny. Top of the special class.

-Ravenscar in London as opposed to the States as I originally assumed

Is Newcastle in London as well?

Genuinely exciting news –

The BBC has announced that Michelle Gomez will join the cast of Doctor Who.

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2014/06/michelle-gomez-joins-doctor-who.html

Sadly, not as the Doctor.

Since buying Image's big all-in-one Stray Bullets collection at the weekend, my back has been fucked. Thanks Image.

(It's bloody good, though.)

That's an awesome photograph Tim. I think the English should be prouder of the tradition of Morris, it is mad and bizarre but quintessentially English.

Ta!

I've been doing a bit of a Morris photographic project recently –

'Quintessentially English' means 'probably borrowed and bastardised from the North African', of course...

Whatever are you doing?

Well, I'm just taking photos. The other chaps are morris dancing – famously, one of the two things you should never try even once. (The other thing is also reportedly popular in certain parts of the countryside.)

The latest FT (arrived last week in the UK) has a full tribute to Steve, including a contribution from big hairy Alan, and a last feature on a witchcraft panic in Han dynasty China.

His recent novel, Somnium, is well worth seeking out.

http://strangeattractor.co.uk/shoppe/somnium/

Up before dawn for traditional start to May day in Huddersfield.

Did the Stray Bullets Uber Alles trade actually ship ?

I have seen it in a shop (Travelling Man in Leeds, to be precise). It was big.